The G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes, a key 2-year-old graded stakes race paving the way to next spring's Classics, was claimed by the overwhelming favourite, Eri King, who secured his first graded stakes victory with an undefeated record of three wins. The winning time was 2:00.9. Giovanni finished second, followed by Claudiai in third. Second favourite Sarakosth disappointed in seventh place.

Breaking evenly from the gate, Eri King settled mid-pack, tracking the leaders in a good rhythm while racing wide. However, as the field approached the critical turn, his response was initially lacklustre. Jockey Yuga Kawada, aboard for all three of Eri King's starts, urged him strongly with the reins, gradually igniting his engine. In the stretch, Eri King unleashed a sustained late kick to surge past rivals and secure victory from the outside.

Reflecting on the race, Kawada commented, "The horse was in better shape than last time, and I could feel his growth through his training. I could confirm his progress during the pre-race warm-up, so I aimed to deliver a performance befitting that."

Regarding the challenging turn, he explained, "While his body has improved and his movement is sharper, it hasn't fully translated into race performance yet. On the third and fourth turns, he wasn't responding as expected, requiring extra effort to push him. Winning was crucial here, and I think this experience will be valuable for his future development."